BETTY GAYLE COOPER RATLIFF

BETTY GAYLE COOPER RATLIFF

DURANT, Okla. -- Funeral services for Betty Gayle Cooper-Ratliff will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the Vicotry Life Church here under the direction of Murray Funeral Home. Burial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Hobbs (New Mexico). Mrs. Cooper-Ratliff died Friday, Nov. 12,1999 at her home. She was born Feb. 9, 1952 in Hobbs and was a graduate of Hobbs High School and Eastern New Mexico University. She also earned a master's degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She married Harry "Rip" Ratliff on Feb. 9, 1992. Mrs. Cooper-Ratliff served as the rodeo coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State University from 1976 until the time of her death. She won nine world championship titles on the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) circuit, was selected as the first WPRA Pioneer Award recipient and was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1987. In addition, Mrs. Cooper-Ratliff was inducted into the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1998 and was awarded the Lane Frost Memorial Award just over a month ago. She is survived by her husband, of the home; one son, Cooper Thomas Ratliff of the home; one step-daughter, Keegan Ratliff of Lawton, Okla.; her parents, Tuffy and Betty Rose Cooper of Monument (NM); and two brothers, Clay Tom Cooper of Hobbs and Roy Cooper of Childress, Texas.